California water plan aims to save Puget Sound orcas

Biology / Ecology

3 hours ago | not rated yet | 0

A plan to restore salmon runs on California's Sacramento River also could help revive killer whale populations 700 miles to the north in Puget Sound, as federal scientists struggle to protect endangered species in a complex ...

Scientists 'rebuild' giant moa using ancient DNA

Biology / Plants & Animals

Jul 01, 2009 | 5 / 5 (10) | 12

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have performed the first DNA-based reconstruction of the giant extinct moa bird, using prehistoric feathers recovered from caves and rock shelters in New Zealand.

Salamanders, regenerative wonders, heal like mammals, people

Biology / Microbiology

Jul 01, 2009 | 4.9 / 5 (19) | 10

The salamander is a superhero of regeneration, able to replace lost limbs, damaged lungs, sliced spinal cord -- even bits of lopped-off brain. But it turns out that remarkable ability isn't so mysterious after ...

Anti-biotech groups obstruct forest biotechnology

Biology / Biotechnology

Jun 30, 2009 | 3.7 / 5 (7) | 5

The potential of forest biotechnology to help address significant social and environmental issues is being "strangled at birth" by the rigid opposition of some groups and regulations that effectively preclude ...

Super-sleepers could help super-sizers!

Biology / Plants & Animals

Jun 29, 2009 | 5 / 5 (2) | 4

Burrowing frogs can survive buried for several years without food or water. Scientists have discovered that the metabolism of their cells changes radically during the dormancy period allowing the frogs to ...